Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-03-03

FRANKS n this sort t1ne nay the man
ager of the Alcazar himself stopped her
| behind the scenes as she left group of
| Young swellS with whom she had been
laughing and jesting:
=" See here. my little woman he whis-
| percd kindly, you had better take care
| what you are doing. That mar holds
| your life every evening al the end - MS
| arm
"Arabella only laughed
&" He kill mes she answered tossing
her head. stuff, he thinks too much of
me 10 give me scratch
And every evening she posed calmly
before the muzzle of the pistol, her velvet
gaze queliug the anger of her lover, rs
the eye Of a hon tanner masters a wild
lsbeast
'One evening, only about q week after
the names of Guido Ventura and Arabella
had first appeared in great letters upon
the advertising posters of the AlcaZar, a
fine looking gentleman entered the foyer,
walked directly to where the young wo-
man was sitting, who uttered little cry
of surprise. and taking her hand lifted it
to his lips Guido Ventura, who was
talking to the manager, turned, looked
anu very piit uc IuuIl W UO
Just come in was rich American, whose
persistent devotion TO Miss Arabella had
made some sensation in New York. Ii
had been especially on his account that
Guido Ventura had made his Partisan en-
gagement and suddenly left America. So
this man had had the audacity to follow
them? He could not have come TO Paris
except for the woman's sake. Guido
Ventura had terrible scene with his
companion in her dressing room that
evening.
"But much more terrible scene took
place eight days later. For the whole
week the newly arrived American shad-
owed Arabella. Guido Ventura had in
sisted with the manager that the man
should not be permitted 10 go behind the
scenes. But :he American had managed
to obtain an interview with the manager
in his private room, and had used money
lavishly, and succeeded in revoking the
decree of Punishment.
AT the moment Arabella was undress-
ing to don her pages costume that day
Guido Ventura saw little paper fall
from her bosom. He picked it up unob-
served, and read it: il was note from
the American proposing to the young
woman to run away with him the next
day
When he entered the waiting room the
marksman's lips were set and his brow
dark. He took aim at his own reflection
in one of the great mirrors, Just to see il
his hand WAS steady. His hand did not
tremble.
Five minutes later he was on the stage,
commencing the performance. Happening
to turn his head at a certain moment he
caught sight of the Americans face, peer
ing from behind a side scene. Just then
Miss Arabella took up her position in
front of him, with folded arms and her
nutshell poised upon her hair. She smiled.
Who was she smiling at? At the man be-
hind the scene-Guido Ventura knew it,
from the direction of her eyes. When
she moved them again she suddenly
ceased 10 smile. and strange expression
Swallowed her face. She saw Guido Ven
tura taking deliberate aim u her fore
head.
"A report rang out. and Miss Arabella
fell as if struck by lightning.
when they tore her dead body from
his desperate embrace. Guido was mad,
Crime or accident-whichs No one
could tell. Indeed every effort was made
TO hush up the affair. In Paris the dead
are quickly forgotten After the first eN
citement had passed the chief actors in the
bloody drama were never thought of
.'Since then Guido Ventura has been in
my care-passing half his time in shoot
ing at the plaster cast. Once he was un-
lucky enough To break it. and it made him
delirious for a week.
Otherwise. rs you have seen for your
self, he is quite harmless.
1--WE re-entered the pavilion, and found
our marksman in the act of putting his
weapons away.
Didn't miss once to-day, did you:"
asked the doctor in a pleasant voice.
NO" responded the man in a deep
voice: every shot right through the fore
head. TRANSLATED from the French of
Joseph Montat for The New Orleans
Times Democrat.